Join Us To Square Dance, Weekly At Riderwood
Lessons Begin With A Free OPEN House
Watch this video to see why so many residents square dance at Riderwood since 2002:
- Visit us Wednesday mornings in Studio 1 (Wellness Center, 2nd Floor) between 10:15 AM to 11:50 AM.
- Send us an email to tell us of your interest.
- Talk with one of our dozens of square dancers
Learn To Square Dance at Riderwood
We welcome beginners (or to refresh your experience from decades ago).
We teach you the calls and pair you with an experienced partner (or, bring your own partner. Singles or couples, men and women, come!)
Want to try? Join us for a no-risk Open House, FREE for first-time dancers to discover square dance at Riderwood is fun, health-improving, and social. You will be square dancing within the first hour!
Lessons for beginners start with the FREE Open House. Email us now at squaredance@riderwoodlife.com so we alert you to our next Open House, FREE for beginners.
Beginners: Our Introductory Approach, Over 8 Consecutive Weeks
Lessons – Our introductory lessons for beginners come in three parts:
- Start with 1-hour on 8 consecutive Wednesday mornings to learn the foundation calls, helped by experienced Riderwood dancers. You are familiar with some calls – Dosado; Circle Left; Forward and Back; Swing Your Partner; and Promenade. Veteran East Coast caller Kenny Farris sings, provides music you recognize, and teaches.
- Reinforce your instruction on 8 Monday nights with a 1-hour relaxed-pace, no-music practice, led by residents who have square danced for years. Experienced dancers partner with our beginners to review the calls.
- Review at home at your pace in your free moments. Video demonstrations, with explanations of the calls, are available for free on the Internet through your computer or phone.
Cost – The fee for the 8 consecutive hour-long lessons on Wednesday morning and reviews on Monday nights is $40, payable following the FREE Open House for first-time dancers. (This entire fee goes to our caller/teacher, non-refundable after the first lesson. No credit for a missed session.)
Participants limited – The number of beginners enrolled is limited to pair our experienced dancers as partners. Beginners are enrolled based on date of payment. Reserve a spot at any time. (If too many enroll, priority is given for the next introductory lessons.)
Following the Introductory Lessons, More Calls
When the introductory lessons conclude, beginners will have been taught 25 to 30 square dance calls. There’s more to learn in the weeks that follow.
The Wednesday morning lessons and Monday night reviews continue. The online video demonstrations support the learning.
Cost – Each subsequent Wednesday morning dance costs $5, all of which goes to the caller. The reviews on Monday night and the online videos are free.
Participation – The more regularly you attend, the faster you will enjoy and be comfortable on the dance floor. We know absences occur – appointments, vacations, illnesses, care giving. Be sensitive, please, to those who regularly attend who desire to master and progress to more calls rather than to repeat calls missed because of an absence. Study the online videos at home; attend the reviews on Monday nights.
Success! Square Dance On . . . After Lessons
With the completion of beginner lessons, your square dance repertoire will keep growing. Dance every Wednesday morning to calls you have been taught.
| Our Square Dance Schedule at Riderwood (Effective September 9, 2026) Wednesday Mornings, Studio 1, Wellness Center, 2nd Floor Instruction and Dance, Called by Kenny Farris, $5/dance 10:15 AM – 11 AM – Experienced (Post-beginners) 11 AM – 12 Noon – Beginners, with experienced partners [Summer Wednesday morning schedule below] Monday Evenings, Chesapeake Room (downstairs), Montgomery Station Practice/Review led by residents (no music, no fee) 7 PM – 8 PM – Review for Beginners, with experienced partners Summer Wednesday Mornings 10:15 AM – Noon – Everyone dances together for 90+ minutes (Schedule subject to change, based on room availability) |
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all. 
We dance in squares, circles, lines and columns, as individuals and with partners, dependent on the call. We learn them all.
Quick References – Click a highlighted link to help you square dance
Email to Riderwood Square Dance at squaredance@riderwoodlife.com
“Time to Square Up”, Riderwood Reporter, Sept. 2, 2024
“New Year’s Resolution: Start to Dance”, Riderwood Reporter, Jan. 8, 2024
“Eleven Residents Graduate Square Dance”, Riderwood Reporter, July 7, 2025
“Square Up for Beginner Lessons”, Riderwood Reporter, Aug. 25, 2025
“Try Square Dancing for Beginners”, Riderwood Reporter, Feb. 2, 2026
“Square Dance Welcomes Latest Grads”, Riderwood Reporter, July 12, 2026
Square Dance Calls and Families (Mainstream) Taught at Riderwood, with Links (Click) to Demonstration Videos
- Arm Turn Family
a. Right/Left Arm Turns
b. Allemande Left/Right - Bend the Line
- Box the Gnat
- California Twirl
- Cast Off ¾
- Centers In
- Circle Family
a. Circle Left / Right (1/4,1/2,3/4,Full)
b. Circle of 4 Left/Right (1/4,1/2,3/4,Full)
c. Single Circle Left/Right (1/4,1/2,3/4,Full) - Circulate Family
a. Couples Circulate
b. (Named Dancers) Circulate
c. All 8 Circulate
d. Single File (Column) Circulate
e. Split Circulate - Courtesy Turn
- Dive Thru
- Dosado
- Double Pass Thru
- Extend
- Ferris Wheel
- First Couple Go Left (or Right); Next Couple (Other)
- Flutterwheel (Women) / Reverse Flutterwheel (Men)
- Fold / Cross Fold
- Grand Square
- Half Sashay Family
a. Half Sashay
b. Roll Away
c. Ladies In, Men Sashay - Hinge Family
a. Single Hinge
b. Couples Hinge - Ladies Chain Family
a. (Designated) Ladies Chain Across / Ladies Chain 3/4
b. All Four Ladies Chain / All Four Ladies
Chain 3/4
c. Chain Down the Line - Lead Right / Lead Left
- Ocean Wave Family
a. Step to a Wave (and calls that follow a
Wave)
b. Dosado to a Wave
c. Single Circle to a Wave
- Pass the Ocean
- Pass Thru
- Promenade Family
a. Couples Promenade / Promenade Halfway
b. Single File Promenade
c. Star Promenade
d. Wrong Way Promenade - Recycle (From Waves Only)
- Right and Left Grand Family
a. Right and Left Grand
b. Weave the Ring
c. Wrong Way Grand - Right and Left Thru
- Run / Cross Run
- Scoot Back
- Separate Family
a. Separate
b. Separate Around 1 or 2 to a Line
c. Separate Around 1 or 2 and Go into the
Middle - Slide Thru
- Spin the Top
- Split Two
- Square Thru (4,3,2) / Left Square Thru (4,3,2)
- Stars (Right / Left)
- Star Thru
- Sweep a Quarter
- Swing
- Swing Thru / Left Swing Thru
- Tag the Line Family
a. Tag the Line (In / Out / Left / Right)
b. Tag the Line [Fraction] (¼, ½, ¾) - Touch a Quarter
- Trade Family
a. Couples Trade
b. (Named Dancers) Trade (e.g. Women, Men, Centers, Ends)
c. Trade Right Hand / Trade Left Hand
d. Partner Trade - Trade By
- Turn Back Family
a. U-Turn Back
b. Backtrack - Veer Right / Veer Left
- Wheel and Deal
- Wheel Around / Reverse Wheel Around
- Zoom
Get Started Here:
Who’s Who in the Square – Head, Side, Man (Left of) Woman
Movement and Orientation – Square, facing walls, partner, corner
Forward and Back – move ahead and return
Make Lines – For breakdown of square
Thank You – At end of each dance set
This a list of Mainstream calls taught at Riderwood as designated by CallerLab, the square dance caller association, as of Sept. 1, 2026. The video lessons are courtesy of North Shore Squares, Evanston, Ill.
Square Dance Calls (Mainstream) Taught at Riderwood (Alphabetical), with Links (Click) to Demonstration Videos
Get Started Here:
Who’s Who in the Square – Head, Side, Man (Left of) Woman
Movement and Orientation – Square, facing walls, partner, corner
Forward and Back – move ahead and return
Make Lines – For breakdown of square
Thank You – At end of each dance set
This a list of Mainstream calls taught at Riderwood as designated by CallerLab, the square dance caller association, as of Sept. 1, 2026. The video lessons are courtesy of North Shore Squares, Evanston, Ill.
This a list of Mainstream calls taught at Riderwood as designated by CallerLab, the square dance caller association, as of Sept. 1, 2026. The video lessons are courtesy of North Shore Squares, Evanston, Ill.